Claude Dugat

Claude Dugat has long been a respected and beloved figure in Burgundy, while the wines of his eponymous domaine have captivated the world. Working alongside him for the better part of the last decade has been his son Bertrand and daughter Laetitia, to whom Claude turned over control of the estate with the 2015 vintage.

While the Dugat family traces its roots in Gevrey back to the 19th century, it was not until 1955 when Claude’s father Maur...

The work of the domaine has always been a family operation, now with Laetitia working the vines and Bertrand tending to duties in the cellar. Since 2013, the farming has shifted to an organic emphasis with the adoption of biodynamic principles as well. In the winery, an emphasis on purity has inspired decisions to restrict the use of sulfur, chaptalization and acidification. With earlier harvesting, more restrained extraction and a tempered oa...

The key to Dugat’s quality is the raw material, from vines which naturally produce small berries through control of vigour. Claude Dugat is not one of the late picking factions in Gevrey because his grapes are properly ripe in good time. These are unusually rich, concentrated wines, without any feel of over extraction. Though there is a sumptuous outer layer which makes the wines attractive in youth, they are clearly built to age.